Language and Culture Journal

Journal 7: Language Identity Tree

1. Make a list of the speech communitites of which you are currently a memeber.
2. Create a tree where you are the trunk and each speech community is a separate branch.
3. For each branch, note the following:
a. influential members
b. context of community (family, social, church, etc.)
c. description of membership (gender, race/ethnicity, origin, education, etc.)
d. language traditions (how do you communicate, how much do you communicate, who does the most of the talking, what do you talk about, do you speak "standard" english, do you use a dialect, do you speak slang (in written or oral usage), do you read often (for what purpose), etc.)
4. At the base of your tree, write a brief paragraph reflecting on your own identity through your asssociation with these speech communities.


Church family_{The Baxters
Pastor Don (most influential)
and Kim Letson
Kathy
Julie and AJ
membership by religious belief
Language traditions: call everyone brother/sister/read bible often
speak to eachother usually only in church, but visit the sick and those in hospitals}

Relations by blood_{Audre,Dylan, Deserae, Alexia,
Mom, Dad, Many Aunts and Uncles
Jennifer (most influential), Jimmy
membership by blood
language traditions: chow for goodbye, say "I love you more because I'm bigger"
talk often about our family relations and life
speak in other languages what words are known}

Workthe boss, the blond, the guy with the curly hair that shaved it off (how sad)
the guy who knows everything, the quiet girl who secretly got married,
         the one who never wants to leave,
                   the unsure, the new guy
                                                 the girl that is always busy
                                                                               the one that creeps me out

the customers

Jeanette Schaaf

It is interesting to analyze the relationship of speech communities. I see that there are different topics of conversation with each speech community. I think if I extended my tree out further to professional communities, friends, strangers or acquaintances, that the manner I spoke would change as well. I don't see myself changing to fit into the communities, but rather I have different ways of speech association with the different communities. Saying one thing in one community will have a different impact in another community. There are more slang sayings and actions in the family relations branch than any other branch. I can see that language is also more fun in the family relations branch rather than just a form of communication. I don't see how written and oral are different for each group though. The only group that I can think of how a difference could be possible is with the work branch. I speak informally to coworkers, but write formally when needed.

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